IN COURT: The latest news and appearances from North Staffordshire's courts

Aaron Finney, aged 25, of Victoria Street, Basford, is to stand trial at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on March 20 after pleading not guilty to assaulting Jessica Bowker at Hanley on August 5.

BURSLEM

Terry Harding, aged 45, of Hamil Road, Burslem, has denied false imprisonment, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. His trial will be held at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on March 25 and he was remanded in custody.

CHELL

Part-time care worker Jillian Scarsbrook, aged 56, of St Michael's Road, Chell, will have to wait longer to find out her fate after pleading guilty to drink driving on January 7. Sentence was adjourned until January 24 by magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre. Magistrates made an interim driving ban until the next hearing.

FEGG HAYES

Daniel Goodwin, aged 24, of Burlidge Road, Fegg Hayes, has been committed to Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court charged with possession of 119 grams of M-cat with intent to supply at Birches Head on August 8. He is also charged with driving while disqualified, having no insurance, and obstructing a police officer. He indicated he would plea guilty when he appears at crown court on March 1. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre gave him bail.

HANLEY

Marc Emery, aged 19, of Charles Street, Hanley, has pleaded not guilty to common assault on Stephanie Ward at Hanley on January 19 and breach of a Restraining Order on the same date. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre gave him unconditional bail until March 18 when his trial will be held.

KIDSGROVE

James Abbotts has been ordered to pay £50 compensation after he pleaded guilty at North Staffordshire Justice Centre to assaulting Mitchell Grocott at Kidsgrove on December 28.The defendant, aged 20, of Warwick Close, Kidsgrove, was also fined £75 with £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

KNUTTON

Teenager Ross Pickerill has denied rape. The 18-year-old also denied attempting to sexually assault by penetration, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, two charges of sexual activity with a child and two charges of meeting a child following sexual grooming. Pickerill, of St Bernard's Road, Knutton, will have his trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on a date to be fixed. The defendant was granted bail.

KNUTTON

Samuel Walters, aged 23, of Shelton Farm Road, Hanley, has pleaded guilty to offering to supply cannabis and possession of cannabis. He will be sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after a report is prepared on him by a probation officer. The defendant was granted bail.

LONGTON

A 22-year-old man has appeared in court charged with three offences of assault. Aaron Robinson, formerly of Chell, but now living at Waterloo Road, Cobridge, is accused of assaulting Hayley McDonald by beating at Tunstall on January 17, assaulting Miss McDonald at Tunstall between November 1 and December 30 and assaulting the same woman at Abbey Hulton between January 1 and January 17. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre granted conditional bail until February 7.

LONGTON

Kahl Locker, aged 28, of Dunrobin Street, Longton, has pleaded guilty to breaching a restraining order on January 19. Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre adjourned sentence until February 14. He was granted conditional bail.

NEWCASTLE

Joanne Machin, aged 32, of Bamber Place, Newcastle, is charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis, having no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence at Newcastle on January 4. North Staffordshire Justice Centre adjourned the case until January 25.

PENKHULL

Mark Beardmore, aged 22, of Newcastle Lane, Penkhull, was given a six-month conditional discharge by magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre after admitting being found on private property at Shelton on November 8. He also admitted possession of diazepam. Beardmore was told to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

SANDFORD HILL

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre have withdrawn the case against 41-year-old Julie Bartlett, of Loganbeck Grove, Sandford Hill, who was accused of failing to comply with the requirements of a community order, because she was handed a 10-month prison sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last week.

STOKE

Twenty-five-year-old Ryan Whalley, of Selwyn Street, Stoke, has denied robbing a woman of a mobile phone and two charges of common assault on August 11. His trial was listed to be held at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in the week beginning March 11. Whalley was granted bail.